Display system including a microcircuit card and a reader

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a display system comprising a plurality of chip cards ( 1 ) and a chip card reader ( 9 ), each chip card ( 1 ) comprising a software and a body ( 2 ) produced in synthetic material and wherein is provided a communication interface, the reader ( 9 ) comprising a box ( 10 ) and a display screen capable of displaying different messages, the box ( 10 ) being provided with a slot ( 12 ) capable of receiving a chip card ( 1 ), a communication interface being arranged in the slot for providing an electric connection between the reader ( 9 ) and each chip card ( 1 ). The chip card ( 1 ) comprises a display part ( 4 ) capable of being urged to co-operate by being superposed with the reader ( 9 ) display screen.

The present invention relates to the field of display systems that canbe used for an electronic purse or for a game, in particular a game ofchance, provided with a microcircuit card and a microcircuit cardreader.

For a betting-type game, for example, the player first obtains amicrocircuit card containing the software of the game. For moreinformation on this type of game see French document 27 47 526 cited byway of reference.

An object of the present invention is to propose a system with auniversal reader adapted to read different cards each of which isprovided for a given use.

An object of the present invention is to propose a display system inwhich the display means are adapted to suit different kinds of use withsatisfactory resolution and at very low cost.

The display system in accordance with the invention includes a pluralityof microcircuit cards and a microcircuit card reader. Each microcircuitcard contains software and has a body which is made from a syntheticmaterial and in which a communication interface is provided. The readerincludes a case and a display screen capable of displaying differentmessages. The case is provided with a slot adapted to receive amicrocircuit card. A communication interface is disposed in the slot toenable an electrical connection between the reader and the microcircuitcard. Each microcircuit card has a display part adapted to cooperate bysuperposition with the display screen of the reader.

The display part of each card is advantageously fixed.

In one embodiment of the invention the reader is adapted to cooperatewith cards having different display parts.

In one embodiment of the invention the display part of each card istransparent and adapted to be disposed over the display screen of thereader.

In another embodiment of the invention the display screen of the readeris transparent and the display part of each card is adapted to bedisposed under the display screen of the reader.

The reader advantageously includes control means for the display screen.

In one embodiment of the invention the reader includes means fortransmitting displayed information.

In one embodiment of the invention the information transmission meansinclude a piezo-electric vibrator adapted to transmit information in theform of an acoustical bar-code.

The invention also provides a microcircuit card reader for a system asdescribed hereinabove.

The invention further provides a microcircuit card containing softwareand having a body which is made from a synthetic material and in which acommunication interface is provided. The microcircuit card includes adisplay part adapted to cooperate by superposition with the displayscreen of a microcircuit card reader of the type including a case and adisplay screen capable of displaying different messages, the case isprovided with a slot adapted to receive a microcircuit card, and acommunication interface is disposed in the slot to provide an electricalconnection between the reader and the microcircuit card.

Thus the user acquires a single reader that is not specificallydedicated to one use, for example a game or a bank account, and amicrocircuit card that is dedicated to one use. The display screen ofthe reader can merely modify the brightness of a particular area of thescreen so that it appears lighter or darker. The user sees thesuperposition of this particular area of the screen and a correspondingarea of the display part of the microcircuit card on which a given signis shown, for example a number, which is therefore contrasted with theremainder of the display and is so brought to the attention of the user.The display part of the microcircuit card includes information necessaryfor using it, such as a grid that can be etched, printed or formed byany other low-cost means.

A display system is provided including a universal and economical readerassociated with a dedicated microcircuit card whose memory contains theinformation needed for using it, for example the game software and theinformation necessary for controlling the display screen of the reader.Control of the display is of course programmed to correspond with theinformation present on the display part of the microcircuit card. Thus auser who has purchased a reader can consult different microcircuitcards, in particular a health card, telephone card, public transportcard, loyalty card, electronic purse card, game card, access card, etc.

The present invention will be better understood and other advantageswill become apparent on reading the following detailed description ofone embodiment of the invention, which description is given by way ofnon-limiting example only and illustrated by the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a microcircuit card according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a reader according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a system combining the reader and themicrocircuit card; and

FIG. 4 is a view to a larger scale and in section taken along the lineIV—IV in FIG. 3.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the microcircuit card 1 has a body 2 with anopaque part 3 and a transparent display part 4. The body 2 can be madefrom a flexible synthetic material and has standardised dimensions, itsthickness being very small compared to its length and its width. Theboundary between the opaque part 3 and the display part 4 is a line 5parallel to the shorter side of the card, the display part 4 beingslightly larger than the opaque part 3. In the opaque part 3 there is acommunication interface 6 in the form of conductive metallised areas 7electrically connected to a memory, not shown, contained in the card 1and enabling the card to communicate with other units.

The display part 4 comprises nine squares 8 disposed in three rows ofthree and numbered 1 to 9. The contours of the squares and the numbersare opaque and are formed on the transparent part by a marking methodsuch as printing, screenprinting, etc. Clearly the markings on thedisplay part 4 depend on the use for which the card is intended. In usesother than that shown, different numbers could be marked, for examplethe numbers 1 to 49, with or without a frame, or letters, signs or anyother graphical representation. The numbers could equally be disposedperpendicularly to the disposition shown here, i.e. with the row ofnumbers 1 to 3 parallel to the width. Finally, opaque and transparentareas arranged differently could be used. The body 2 of the microcircuitcard 1 could even be entirely transparent except for the interface 6.

It must be understood that the display part 4 is an information supportarea intended to be read by associating the microcircuit card 1 with areader that is described below. The opaque area 3 can advantageouslysupport information such as instructions for use or advertising, but hasno active role in association with display means of the reader.

The reader 9 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 includes a parallelepiped-shaped case10 which is made of a synthetic material, for example, and a displayscreen 11, for example an LCD screen. Inside the case 10 is a controlunit, for example a 4-bit microprocessor, not shown, for controlling thedisplay on the screen 11. The case 10 has a slot 12 to receive amicrocircuit card 1. The slot 12 opens onto one of the smaller ends 10 aof the case 10 and its depth is such that the communication interface 6and the display part 4 of a card 1 are entirely inside the slot 12 afterinserting the microcircuit card 1.

The screen 11 is disposed under the slot 12 so that it is under the card1 when inserted. The case 10 also includes an opening 13 extending fromits top face 10 b and connected to the slot 12 in line with the screen11, the opening 13 opening onto the side 10 a. Accordingly, in theabsence of a microcircuit card, the screen 11 at the bottom of theopening 13 is directly visible to the user. After inserting themicrocircuit card 1 the screen 11 is under the transparent display part4.

Near the bottom of the slot 12 is a communication interface 14 adaptedto cooperate with the interface 6 of the microcircuit card 1. Thecommunication interface 14 can take the form of flexible metal fingersadapted to come into contact with the areas 7 of the interface 6. Thecommunication interface 14 is connected to the control unit of thereader 9.

The reader 9 also has two control buttons 15 and 16 that alsocommunicate with the control unit. For example, the button 15 can beused to move a particular area that is lighter or darker than theremainder of the screen 11, that particular area moving into anothersector of the screen 11 each time that the button 15 is pressed. Thebutton 16 can be used to confirm the choice made by the button 15.Alternatively, the reader 9 can be provided with a control keypad orwith directional buttons for moving said area.

The card is inserted by offering up the interface 6 to the inlet of theslot 12 and then sliding it longitudinally towards the back of the slot12. The transparent display part 4 is then over the display screen 11,in other words between the display screen 11 and the eye of the user.The communication interfaces 6 and 14 are in mutual contact. The controlunit can then read the memory of the card 1, which provides it with thenecessary information relating to the nature of the use and the areas tobe lit or not on the display screen 11.

FIG. 3 shows that the digit 1 is contrasted on the display when the areaof the screen 11 under the digit 1 marked on the transparent displaypart 4 of the microcircuit card 1 is contrasted with the other areas ofthe screen 11. It is therefore clear that the display screen 11 providesmeans for illuminating or contrasting the display part 4 of themicrocircuit card.

Because the reader 9 does not store information relating to use, it doesnot need any memory, or can have a memory of very small capacity, whichis therefore of very low cost. The microcircuit card 1 storesinformation relating to a single use so that the card memory is ofrelatively small size and of equally low cost, which in the case of agame avoids the user having to pay for a costly multigame card when itis very frequently the case that the user is interested in only onegame. The user therefore has to support only the cost relating to theuse that is of interest.

When the user has made their play or placed their bet by means of thebuttons 15 and 16, the control unit of the reader 9 writes the chosenplay into the memory of the microcircuit card 1. The user then takesonly the microcircuit card 1 to a trader, for example a tobacconist, whohas the necessary equipment and validates the play by reading themicrocircuit card 1 and transferring the play to the data processingsystem of the organiser of the game or the bet.

Alternatively, there can be provision for acoustical transmission, forexample by telephone, using a piezo-electric vibrator in the reader 9 totransmit acoustical information relating to the play validated by theuser, for example in the form of an acoustic bar-code.

In the case of an electronic purse, the reader can be held by the user,for example to consult the available amount, or by the trader from whoma purchase is made. Of course, the display system can be adapted forother kinds of use. Accordingly, with a health card, the social securitynumber, prescriptions and diagnoses can be shown. There is thus assureda display part of the card, the software stored in the card and thescreen of the reader managed by the microprocessor of the reader inaccordance with instructions in the software.

The invention provides an economical display system avoiding the userhaving to purchase means they do not wish to use, such as additionalplays, and enabling easy reading of the display thanks to thecooperation of fixed display means, i.e. the microcircuit card 1, andvariable display means, i.e. the screen 11 of the reader 9. A reversedrelative position of the two display means could of course be provided,with a transparent or semi-transparent screen 11 disposed over thedisplay part 4 of the microcircuit card 1.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display system including a plurality ofmicrocircuit cards (1) and a microcircuit card reader (9), in whichsystem each microcircuit card (1) contains software and has a body (2)made from a synthetic material and in which a communication interface(6) is provided, the reader (9) includes a case (10) and a displayscreen (11) for displaying different messages, the case is provided witha slot (12) adapted to receive any one of the microcircuit cards (1),and a communication interface (14) is disposed in the slot to enable anelectrical connection between the reader and the microcircuit card,wherein each microcircuit card (1) has a display part (4) provided withan information support area and adapted to cooperate by superpositionwith the display screen (11) of the reader.
 2. A system according toclaim 1, characterized in that the display part of each card is fixed bymeans of a marking process.
 3. A system according to claim 2,characterized in that the reader is adapted to cooperate with cardshaving different display parts.
 4. A system according to claim 2,characterized in that the display part (4) of each card is transparentand adapted to be disposed over the display screen (11) of the reader.5. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that the displayscreen of the reader is transparent and the display part of each card isadapted to be disposed under the display screen of the reader.
 6. Asystem according to claim 2, characterized in that the reader (9)includes control means (15, 16) for the display screen.
 7. A systemaccording to claim 2, characterized in that the reader includes meansfor transmitting displayed information.
 8. A system according to claim2, wherein the marking process is etching or printing or screenprinting.9. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the reader isadapted to cooperate with cards having different display parts.
 10. Asystem according to claim 9, characterized in that the display part (4)of each card is transparent and adapted to be disposed over the displayscreen (11) of the reader.
 11. A system according to claim 9,characterized in that the display screen of the reader is transparentand the display part of each card is adapted to be disposed under thedisplay screen of the reader.
 12. A system according to claim 9,characterized in that the reader (9) includes control means (15, 16) forthe display screen.
 13. A system according to claim 9, characterized inthat the reader includes means for transmitting displayed information.14. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the displaypart (4) of each card is transparent and adapted to be disposed over thedisplay screen (11) of the reader.
 15. A system according to claim 14,characterized in that the reader includes means for transmittingdisplayed information.
 16. A system according to claim 1, characterizedin that the display screen of the reader is transparent and the displaypart of each card is adapted to be disposed under the display screen ofthe reader.
 17. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that thereader (9) includes control means (15, 16) for the display screen.
 18. Asystem according to claim 1, characterized in that the reader includesmeans for transmitting displayed information.
 19. A system according toclaim 18, characterized in that the information transmission meansinclude a piezoelectric vibrator adapted to transmit information in theform of an acoustical bar-code.
 20. A microcircuit card reader (9), eachcard being of the type comprising a microcircuit containing software,and a body (2) made of synthetic material and in which a communicationinterface (6) is provided, the reader (9) comprising a case (10) and adisplay screen (11) capable of displaying different messages, the casebeing provided with a slot (12) adapted to receive a microcircuit card(1), a communication interface (14) being disposed in the slot in orderto enable electrical connection between the reader and the microcircuitwherein the case (10) comprises an opening (13) joining the slot (12) inline with the display screen so that each microcircuit card (1) isadapted to cooperate by superposition with the display screen (11). 21.A microcircuit card (1) containing software and having a body (2), whichis made from a synthetic material and in which a communication interface(6) is provided, wherein it includes a display part (4) provided with aninformation support area and adapted to cooperate by superposition withthe display screen (11) of a microcircuit card reader (9) of the typeincluding a case (10) and a display screen (11) capable of displayingdifferent messages, the case is provided with a slot (12) adapted toreceive a microcircuit card, and a communication interface (14) isdisposed in the slot to provide an electrical connection between thereader and the microcircuit card.
 22. A display system, including aplurality of microcircuit cards, each microcircuit card having a bodymade from a synthetic material, and a card communication interfacesupported by the body, the microcircuit card containing software andhaving a display part provided with an information support area; and amicrocircuit card reader, including a case having a slot, adapted toreceive any one of the microcircuit cards, a reader communicationinterface supported by the case so as to be exposed in the slot forelectrical connection between the reader and the microcircuit card,through the card communication interface, and a display screen fordisplaying different messages, supported by the case so as to be exposedoutside of the slot, wherein the display part of each microcircuit cardincludes an information support area adapted to cooperate bysuperposition with the display screen when received in the slot.
 23. Thesystem of claim 22, wherein the information support area includesindicia imprinted thereon, the indicia superimposed over the displayscreen and exposed outside of the slot.